Steam-gage.



T. G. MOUAT.

STEAM GAQE. APPLIUATION FILED FEB.26, 1912.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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THOMAS Gi. MOUAT, F CLEVELNJD, OHIO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

' rateuteeireu. ic, iaia Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial Bio. 679,883.

pose of indicating the steam pressure therein. These gages, as ordinarily used, are connected directly with the water space of the boiler and, when the pressure of steam is high, allow the water from the boiler to How out through the gage, thereby aidecting the water level.

v Tt is the general object of this invention to provide a constructionvwherein the pressure will be accurately indicated and without affecting or being affected by the height of the water in the boiler; also to provide a construction which is comparatively simple and efficient in operation.

Still further and generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings formingl part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 represents a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing my gage and the manner of connecting the saine to a boiler; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the gage and Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the gage.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes the shell of a b'oiler, the normal water level therein being indicated at 2. Above the water line,and preferably from a point near the top of the boiler, there projects a horizontal pipe section 3, which may be connected to the boiler in any convenient manner, being shown herein as clamped to the wall of the boiler by nuts 4f threaded on to the.pipe section and abutting against the Vinner and outer surfaces of the boiler shell'.

5 denotes a hollow reservoir preferably of substantially cylindrical form and having radial threaded connections projecting in opposite directions from the upper and lower parts thereof, to the upper of which is secured the outer end of the pipe section 3. The upper part of the reservoir is pfref erably provided with a filling aperture normally closed by the plug 6, while to the bottorn connection there is secured the gage fitting hereinafter described. Tn the present embodiment this gage fitting is supported by means of' a nipple 7 anda connecting member 8, the latter being here shown as consisting of a three branched elbow. One

. of these branches receives. the plug 9 of the gage fitting, said plug having a longitudinal bore 10 formed at its outer end with the valve seat 11 and normally communicating with a chamber 12 provided at the central part of the gage fitting. Cpposite this plug the gage fitting is formed with an internally and externally threaded tubular projection 13, said projection forming a support for a valve stem 14, which is threaded into said projection and is provided with a frustoconical valve 15 cooperating with the valve seat and with a cylindrical extension 16 yof substantially the diameter of the bore 10 A guide extension 17 is provided on the valve stem, which extension projects into and through the bore 10 when the valve is seated and forms a guide for the valve when the valve is withdrawn a considerable distance from its seat. The valve stem 14: extends through a stuffing box having a gland nut 18 threaded onto the' exterior of the tubular projection 13. Said gage fitting is also formed with an upwardly extending intermediate tubular projection 19 having an exterior thread and supporting a gage tube 20, the tube extending through a stuffing box comprising a gland nut 21 threaded onto the extension 19. At its upper end, the gage tube is preferably provided with a metallic casing 22 which incloses the end of the tube and is provided with a discharge outlet 2 3, the casing being secured to the tube through a stuiiing box comprising a gland nut 24 threaded onto the lower end of the casing. A drain cock 25 is preferably provided for draining the reservoir and gage tube. Carried by the reservoir 5 is an upright rigid index plate 28, here shown as supported by means of a pipe nipple 2 threaded .into the third branch 26 of vthe elbow 8. This plate is provided with graduations 29 indicating the boiler pressure in the gage in terms of any convenient unit, as ounces. The plate 28 extends upwardly preferably as high as the .top of the gage tube 20 and is provided with a bracket 30, projecting laterally therefrom and through which the upper portion of the gage tube 20 extends, whereby the said brac et forms a guide and support .for the upper end of the tube. Rods 31 depending from the bracket 30 are connected to lugs 32 carried by the tee fitting so as to support the outer end of said fitting, the lower ends of the rods being provided with nuts 33 (see Fig. 3) by which they are secured'to the lugs 32.

In operation, the reservoir 5 is filled with water through the plug 6, the level of the water being determined by the connection 3. This level is the same as the zero graduation on the index. The pressure of the steam in the boiler is transmitted to the reservoir 5, and the water is forced from said reservoir through the valve-controlled passageway 10 into the chamber 12 and thence into the gage glass 20, the height of the liquid column in pressure terms being indicated by the graduations on the index plate. The reservoir 5 Will be of such large cross-sectional area compared with that of the gage 2 that a comparatively slight depression of the liquid level in the reservoir will lill the gage tube. Should the pressure of steam in the boiler become unusually high, water will be forced from the reservoir out of the gage tube, the tube constituting a safety valve for the boiler.

By locating the reservoir in the manner shown and described herein, the reservoir will normally keep lilled through the condensation of steam within the top of the reservoir, while the level of liquid cannot extend above the bottom of the tubular connec'tion 3 since water accumulating above this line will iow into the boiler.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim is:

i 1. The combination, with a steam boiler, of a reservoir communicating with the vsteam space of the boiler at a point above the bottom of the reservoir in such manner as to provide :an overiow for water of condensation vfrom the reservoir to the boiler, a

' threaded connection carried by said reservoir and communicating with the interior thereof at a point'below the point of connection of said reservoir with said steam space, a iitting carried by said connection, an upright gage tube `of transparent material carried by said fitting, the upper end of said gage tube being in vcommunication with the atmosphere, means for closing the passage between said gage tube and said reservoir, a supporting member carried by said fitting, and an index late carried by said supporting member adjacent to and parallel with said gage tube.

2. The combination, with a steam boiler, of a reservoir communicating with the steam space of the boiler at a point above the bottom of the reservoir `in. such manner as to `provide an overflow for water of condensation from the reservoir to the boiler, a connecting member communicating with the reservoir below the point of connection of the reservoir with the boiler and having vertical and lateral branches, a gage fitting secured to one of said branches, means for closing the passage through said ga e fitting, a vertically arranged gage tu e of transparent material joined to said gage fitting, and an index plate supported by said vertical branch and cooperating with said gage tube.

3. A gage comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal elbow having a vertical branch at the junction of its lateral branches, a tee fitted inv one of the lateral branches of the elbow and havin a bore therethrough, a valve mounted in t e opposite branch of the tee and adapted to control said bore, a gage tube of transparent material projecting upwardly from the vertical branch of the tee, an index plate cooperating With the gage tube and supported by the vertical branch of the elbow, and connections for supplying liquid to the lateral branch of the elbow opposite the valve controlled branch.

4. A pressure gage for vapor boilers comprising a hollow reservoir having horizontally projecting threaded connections at its upper and lower portions, means for attaching the upper of said connections to a steam boiler in such a manner as to place the same in communication with the steam chamber thereof and` to provide an overfiow for water of condensation from the reservoir to the boiler, a gage litting communicating with the other of said connections and having an upwardly projecting extension, an upright gage tube of transparent material carried by said extension, the upper end of said gage tube being in cornmunication with the atmosphere, an indicator plate rigid with said reservoir and projecting upwardly parallel with said gage tube, and a lateral bracket carried by said plate at a point removed from its lower end and having an aperture loosely receiving said gage tube, the horizontal cross sectional area of said reservoir being very large as compared with that of the tube.

5. A pressure gage for vapor boilers comprising a hollow reservoir having horizontallv projecting threaded connections at its upper and lower portions, means for attaching the upper of said connections to a steam boiler at a point above the water line thereof in such a manner as to provide an overflow for water of condensation from the reservoir to the boiler, a gage fitting communicating with the other of said connections and having an upwardly projecting extension, an upright gage tube of transparent material carried by said extension, the uplib mageos per end out said gage tube being in communication with the atmosphere, a rigid indicator plate carried by said reservoir and projecting upwardly parallel with said gage tube, said reservoir having a horizontal cross-sectional area very large as compared with that of the tube and also having a lling opening in its upper part, means for closing said opening, and a drain cock corrimunicating with the lowest part of said tu e.

` 6. The combination, with a steam boiler, of a hollow cylindrical reservoir having radial threaded connections projecting in opposite directions from the upper and lower portions thereof, a horizontal pipe secured in the upper of said connections and communicating with the steam s ace of the boiler, a gage tting communicating with the lower of said connections and having an upwardly extending projection, a rigid vertical plate carried by said reservoir and having a lateral bracket formedwith an aperture above and in line with said projection, a gage tube of transparent material secured to said projection and extending loosely through said aperture, the upper end of said gage tube being in communication with the atmosphere, means for closing the passage between said reservoir and gage tube, the horizontal cross sectional area of said reservoir being very large compared with the cross sectional area of said tube and said plate being formed with graduations whose zero point coincides substantially7 with the lower wall of said pipe.

lin testimony whereof, l hereunto aiiix my signature in the rpresence of two witnesses.

v HOMAS G. MOUAT. Witnesses.

J, 1B., HULL, BRENNAN B. WEST. 

